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TORONTO – Whether the Diamondbacks trade Randy Johnson or not, the latest development in the Big Unit saga is a positive one for the Yankees.

According to multiple sources, the Dodgers offered catcher Paul Lo Duca, pitcher Guillermo Mota and three minor leaguers to Arizona for Johnson. And while the Diamondbacks never officially went to Johnson for his permission to accept the deal, Johnson made it known to the Diamondbacks’ front office that he didn’t want to go to L.A.

That’s good news for the Yankees, because the longer the process goes, their chances of getting Johnson to front a suspect rotation increase because the Diamondbacks’ camp is split on what to do with the future Hall of Famer.

Investors of the cash-strapped Diamondbacks would like to get out from under the $22 million owed the 40-year-old lefty for the remainder of this season and all of next year. However, owner Jerry Colangelo, GM Joe Garagiola, Jr. and other baseball decision-makers don’t think they can get fair value from the Yanks. Thus, they haven’t officially come to him with a trade to the Yanks to accept or veto.

It’s the Yankees’ hope that before Saturday’s 4 p.m. trading deadline the Diamondbacks will figure a package of Triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro, second baseman Robinson Cano, pitcher Brad Halsey and possibly major league reliever Scott Proctor added to the Yankees taking on the $22 million will be enough for the Diamondbacks to go to Johnson for his permission. It’s believed Johnson, whose next start is slated for tomorrow night, would accept a move to The Bronx because he believes his best chance of adding a second World Series ring is with the Yankees.

“They have put all their eggs in Randy Johnson’s basket,” a source said of the Yankees, who never showed an interest in Pittsburgh’s Kris Benson, the only other top of the rotation pitcher available.

The buzz in the Yankees’ clubhouse yesterday centered around a three-way deal that would send Jose Contreras, who has a no-trade clause, to the Marlins, Navarro, Halsey and Marlins’ first base prospect Jason Stokes to Arizona and Johnson to The Bronx. However, a Yankee official said several three-way proposals were turned down by Arizona.

If Johnson doesn’t join the Yankees, they have their fingers firmly crossed that Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown return from the DL and pitch to their career numbers. Of course, that’s asking a lot. And even if Brown, 39, and Mussina, 35, return to health, the Yankees still don’t have a No. 1 pitcher to start a post-season series.

Brown, who hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since June 9 due to a strained lower back and an intestinal parasite, may start tomorrow night against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

Mussina, out since July 6 with an inflamed right elbow, will play catch today and tomorrow. If he doesn’t feel discomfort, Mussina will throw off a Yankee Stadium mound Sunday. After that he would be sent on a minor league rehab assignment.